Water-elevator



(No Model.)

C. M. KIMBALL.

WATER BLEVATOR.

110. 318,915. Patentedmay 26, 1885.

are

` dinary conditions.

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CHARLES M. KIMBALL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO E. T. KEYES, OF SAME PLACE-, AND PATRICK DOVLNG, OF HOLLAND, OHIO.

WATER-ELEVATOR.

SEIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,915, dated May 26, 1.885.

Application died May ll), 1884. (No model.)

T0 z/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. KIMBALL, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Tater-Elevators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention has special reference to an apparatus to be located on lines of railroad having` a tank into which water is to be elevated for supplying the tanks of locomotive tenders, or for other purposes for which water is required upon lines of railroad.

The invention relates to means whereby the water is elevated from a well or other source of supply at or near the base of the tank through the medium of a vacuum or partial vacuum formed within a close vessel or vacuum-cha-mber situated near the water-tank and connected therewith by a valvcd pipe, said vacuum-chamber being adapted for connection with the boiler of a locomotive or other steamgenerator by a pipe provided with a suitable valve or cock. The vacnunrchamber has connection with the cistern or other watersupply by means of a pipe having an auto maticallyactin g valve adapted to seat against the pressure within the vacuum-tank and to open under the influence of atmospheric pressurcwithoutsaid chamber. Thevacuum-chamber is placed at a height less than thirty-two leet above the cistern or source of supply, so that the water is forced therein under the or- The tank to which the water is forced from the vacuum-chamber is iilled by the action of steam-pressure within the vacuum-chamber, the water previously lifted to the vacuum-chamber by atmospheric pressure being forced from said chamber to the water-tank by the steam acting above the surface of the water in the vacuum-chamber. The pipe connecting the vacuum chamber with the water-tank is provided with an au tomatically-acting valve opening upward into the water-tank by steam pressure exerted within the vacuum-chamber, and closing by atmospheric pressure against the vacuum crcated in said chamber.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both views.

A represents a locomotive the track a u.. b B is the tank to which the water is to bc elevated, the tank being supported by the timbers l) upon the bank c at the side of the road-bed. The arrangement of the tank with reference to the track is immaterial, provided that it be such as to allow the convenient apA preach of the locomotive to a point contigoM ons to it.

O is the vacuum-chamber, communicating, by means of a pipe, c, with the cistern or water-supply D. The upper end of the pipe c is provided with a cage, c", in which is placed an upwardlyepening valve, c'".

From the lower part of the vacuunrchainber runs a pipe, d, connecting with the lower part or door of the water-tank B. The upper end of the pipe d is also provided with a cage, d', in which is located an upwardly-opening valve, d.

The tank B may be open at its top, or closed by a suitable cover or lid. The tank B is pro vided with a neck ordelivery-pipe, e, to which the hose or ilexiblc connection f is applied, it being adapted to lead to the tender of a lo comotive, or to discharge water from the tank in a convenient manner.

The upper part ofthe vacuum-chamber O is provided with a pipe, g, having a cock or valve, g. The outer end of the pipe g is furnished with aj oint or connection, g,by means of which the pipe g can be conveniently attached to a. pipe leading from the stcanrspaee of the locomotive-boiler.

It desired, the pipe g may be made iiexible or jointed, whereby to facilitate the connection of the pipe with the locoinotiveboiler.

The operation is as follows: Connection having been made between the vacuuniechamber O and the steam-space of thelocomotive-boiler by opening the cock g', air is forced from the vacuum-chamber G through the pipe d, the valve d within the tank B lifting from its seat, and the valve c" within the vacuum-chamber being forced downward toits seat. The cock standiu g upon g in the steam-pipe g is then to be closed and the steam within the vacuum-chamber C allowed to condense, forming a partial vacuum in the chamber, whereupon the valve d in the watertank will close and the valve 0 within the vacuum-chamber will open by atmospheric pressure, and the vacuum-chamber thereupon fill with water. The vacuum-chamber having been filled with water, the cock g is to be again opened and steam again admitted to the vacuumchamber, whereupon the pressure of steam will close the valve within the vacuumchamber C and open the valve d" within the tank, and the water will be forced from the vacuum-chamber into the tank. This operation is successively repeated until the tank B has been filled with water.

If desired, ajet of cold Water may be thrown into the vacuum-chamber C through the pipe and nozzle h to facilitate the condensation of steam.

Steam may be supplied from any generator other than the locomotiveboiler.

A vacuum-gage may be applied to the vacuum-chambe'r to indicate the condition of the vacuum.

on its way, and the work of condensation beginning immediately thereafter water is lifted to the vacuunrchamber during the absence of that engine for the use of the next train or three trains coming, for the vacuum-chamber is of sufficient' capacity to supply the deficiency in at least three tenders, and a sufcient supply is thus always kept on hand. Itl

is obvious that should the Vstorage-tank be omitted, and the pipe from the vacuum-chamber lead directly to the tender, each engine would have to couple to the vacuumchamber to force water therefrom to the tender, thus causing delay; Whereas by my invention an engine, by coupling with the vacuum-chamber, can first cause the lifting of a large body of water to said chamber, and afterward force the water up to the storage-tank for the use of the next train or trains coming on, thus reducing delay in coupling up. After the steam has been used for forcing the water up to the storage-tank the condensation causes the vacuumchamber to be againiilled, and the water thus elevated to the vacuum-chamber must be forced to the storagetank by the next engine which couples with the vacuum-chamber.

This apparatus is simple and effective in operation, and will lift a large body of water in a short time.

Having described my invention, lI claim- In an apparatus for elevating and storing water for delivery to the tanks of locomotivetenders, the vacuum-chamber C, having the pipe c', valve 0"', and steam-pipe g, combined with the elevated storagetank B, having the delivery-pipe e, pipe d, and valve d, the whole arranged with relation to a railroadtrack and a locomotive-boiler, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of April, A. D. 1881.

CHAR-LES M. KIMBALL. [L s] Vitnesses:

J. D. FORD, J. C. MOORE. 

